Lubricating device for air-compressors



I. E. OSMER.

LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR AIR COMPRESSORS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3,1919.

INVENTQR JOHN E OSMER Offlfl/ ATTORNEY PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. OSMER, OF DW'OSSO, MICHIGAN.

LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR AIR-COMPRESSORS.

Application filed November 3, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. OsMnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lubricating Devices for Air-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lubricating devices, and more particularly to means for lubricating the cylinder of a fluid compressor in which fluid is compressed.

The principal object of my invention is to utilize lubricating oil, which is supplied in the usual way to the steam cylinder of a fluid compressor, for lubricating the fluid compressing cylinder of the compressor.

In the accompanying drawing; Figure l is a central sectional view of a portion of a steam driven fluid compressor with my improvement applied thereto; and Fig. 2 a fragmentary section of the piston stem, showing a slightly modified form of my invention.

In order to illustrate one application of my invention, I have shown my invention applied in the drawing in connection with a steam driven air compressor of the well known type as employed on locomotives in steam railway service.

A. compressor of this type comprises a steam cylinder 1, containing a piston 52, and a fluid compressing cylinder 8 containing a piston 4 connected to piston 2 by a stem 5.

The stem 5 is provided with a central bore 6 for receiving the reversing rod 7, which operates to shift the valve (not shown) for controlling the admission and exhaust of steam to and from the steam cylinder 1.

According to one form of my invention, a central bore 8 is drilled through the stem 5 from the air end of the stem and opens into the usual bore 6.

To a point somewhat above the piston 4t, the stem is counter-bored and a screwthreaded plug 9 is s'rewed in so as to provide a pocket or recess 10.

Within the pocket 10 is a ball check valve 11 adapted to seat upwardly against a seat 12 or downwardly against a seat formed on the upper end of the plug 9 and said check valve controls communication from the pocket 10 to a passage 12, which leads to the cylinder 3 above the piston 4.

In the operation of the compressor, oily water finds its way from the lubricated Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Serial No. 335,442.

steam cylinder 1 to the bore 6 and collects in the bore 8.

W hen steam pressure is exerted on the up per side of the steam piston 2, the ball check valve 11 is held by the steam pressure to its lower seat.

Upon the up stroke of the compressor, steam is exhausted from the steam cylinder at the upper face of the piston 2 and air is compressed in the cylinder 3 above the piston l.

When the piston 4 moves upwardly a certain distance, the pressure of air above the piston i will exceed the steam pressure and thus cause the ball check valve 11 to shift to its upper seat 12, permitting oily water trapped in therecess 10 to flow through the passage 12 to the air cylinder 3 above the piston l.

The oily water thus admitted to the air cylinder 3 contains suilicient lubricant to lubricate the air cylinder of the compressor and yet avoids excessive lubrication.

A slightly modified construction is shown in Fig. 2, in which the piston stem 5 has a larger bore 8 which extends to about the same .point as the bore 8 in the construction shown in Fig. 1. Below this point the bore is oi reduced diameter and is plugged by a rod 13.

A plug it is driven tightly into the bore 8 so as to provide a pocket 15. Within the plug is mounted two ball check valves 16 and 1?, each adapted to seat in opposite directions.

Oily water collects in the bore 8' as in the previously described construction and on the up stroke of the compressor, the ball 16 is lifted to permit oily water in the pocket containing said ball to flow to a passage 18, connecting the pocket containing the ball 17.

On the down stroke, the oily water in passage 18 flows to the pocket containing the ball 17 and on the next up stroke the oily water in the last mentioned pocket flows to the pocket 15 and thence through passage 19 to the air cylinder above the air compressing piston.

The purpose of employing the additional ball che' k valve 16 is to provide against ex cessive flow of oily water in the case of possible leakage past the check valve 17.

The construction herein described operates particularly well in connection with the high pressure cylinder of a compound compressor, since in this case there is fluid under pressure in he air cylinder above the air piston at the start of the up stroke.

The construction is also especially desirable for use in connection with the high pressure cylinder of a compound air compressor for the reason that the higher temperature in that cylinder tends to carbonize the oil and if EIH'QXCQSSlVQ amount of lubricant is supplied to the high pressure cylinder, deposits are liable to be formed which are injurious and tend to reduce the efliciency of the compressor.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 7 1. The combination with a steam driven fluid compressor having a steam cylinder and a fluid compressing cylinder, of a re ceptacle for collecting oily water of corn densation from the steam cylinder and I means operated by compressed fluid in the fluid compressor comprising a steam cylinder containing a. steam piston, a fluid compresslng cylinder contannng a flu1d piston,

and a stem connecting said pistons having a bore extending from the steam cylinder to a point above the fluid piston, and within which oily water of condensation is adapted to collect, oi a check valve for controlling the flow of oily water from said bore to the fluid compressing cylinder. 7

4. The combination with a steam driven fluid compressor comprising a steam cylinder containing a steam piston, a fluid compressing cylinder containing a fluid piston, and a stem connecting said pistons having a bore extending from the steam cylinder to a point above the fluid piston, and within which oily Water of condensation is adapted to collect, of a check valve subject to the opposing pressures of the steam in the steam cylinder and the fluid in the fluid cylinder for controlling the flow of oily 7 water from said bore to the fluid cylinder.

5. The combination with a steam driven fluid compressor comprising a steam cylinder containing a steam piston, a fluid compressing cylinder containing a fluid piston, and a stem connecting said pistons having a bore extending from the steam cylinder to a point above the fluid piston, and within which oily water of condensation is adapted to collect, of a double seating ball check valve subject to the opposing pressures of the steam in the steam cylinder and the fluid compressed in the fluid compressing cylinder for controlling the supply of oily water from said bore to the fluid compressing cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand,

JOHN E. OSMER. 

